The Fall River City Council convened on June 9, 2026, approving several significant measures, including the appointment of Nathaniel Roberts to the Cultural Council and the acceptance of a $10,000 grant for emergency medical services training. The council also approved a new labor agreement for municipal workers.
A motion to hire outside legal counsel for the city flag issue was rejected in a 3-6 vote, with Councilors Cadime, Camara, Hart, and Pereira voting against, and the Mayor vetoing it. A separate vote on adopting an order regarding an advanced training mannequin for Emergency Medical Services was approved unanimously. A motion to approve a Memorandum of Agreement for Labor Advantage for Workers, Local 124 was approved unanimously.
Several ordinances were referred to the Committee on Ordinances and Legislation for further review, including amendments related to the Chief of Police appointment, salary schedules for political appointments, executive officers, department heads, and non-union personnel, and solid waste collection and disposal. Traffic commission recommendations and changes regarding polling places were also referred to the Committee on Ordinances and Legislation.
The council also heard numerous updates on pending claims, interdepartmental communications, and several city council minutes from May. Notably, a loan order of $29,800,000 for the purchase of the former Bishop Connolly High School property was approved in a 7-1 vote, with Councilor Peckham dissenting.
Key actions
- Rejected a proposed ordinance authorizing the City Council to hire outside legal counsel, 3-6, Mayor vetoed it
- Confirmed Nathaniel Roberts to the Cultural Council unanimously
- Accepted a $10,000 grant from Southcoast Health for an advanced training mannequin for Emergency Medical Services Dept. unanimously
- Approved a Memorandum of Agreement for Labor Advantage for Workers, Local 124 unanimously
- Referred proposed ordinance amending §2-401, Chief of Police – Appointment; powers and duties; term to the Committee on Ordinances and Legislation unanimously
- Referred proposed ordinance amending §50-303, Salary schedule for political appointments and boards/committees to the Committee on Ordinances and Legislation unanimously
- Referred proposed ordinance amending §50-301, Salary schedule for executive officers, department heads, and non-union personnel to the Committee on Ordinances and Legislation unanimously
- Referred proposed ordinance amending §62-2(C), Solid waste – collection and disposal generally to the Committee on Ordinances and Legislation unanimously
- Referred Traffic Commission recommendations regarding amendments to the traffic ordinances to the Committee on Ordinances and Legislation unanimously
- Referred Fall River Redevelopment Authority regarding Davol Street Corridor Maintenance to the Committee on Ordinances and Legislation unanimously
- Referred Commission on Disability recommendations regarding changes to polling places to the Committee on Ordinances and Legislation unanimously
- Accepted a communication from Evolve Academy – Services provided to veterans during Memorial Day Ceremonies unanimously
- Accepted a communication from Argosy Collegiate Charter School Early College Program Participants – Receipt of Associate Degree from Bristol Community College unanimously
- Accepted a communication from Plymouth Rock Assurance Corp. regarding a claim unanimously
- Accepted a communication from Suzinda Vieira regarding a claim unanimously
- Accepted a communication from Lisa Torres regarding a claim unanimously
- Accepted a communication from Elaine Medeiros regarding a claim unanimously
- Accepted a communication from Ann Marie Perciwarehester regarding a claim unanimously
- Accepted a communication from Carl Ferreira regarding a claim unanimously
- Accepted a communication from Roger Duarte regarding a claim unanimously
- Accepted a communication from Dr. Kathleen Smith, Interim Superintendent, Fall River Public Schools unanimously
- Accepted a communication from The Preservation Society of Fall River, Inc. unanimously
- Accepted a communication from James Root regarding applications for structures on or over a public way unanimously
- Accepted a communication from Ines da Silva Paulino Leite, City Clerk regarding Curb Removals unanimously
- Accepted a communication from Dylans Estates LLC, 1175 State Road, Westport, MA regarding Curb Removals unanimously
- Accepted a communication from Massachusetts Electric Company d/b/a National Grid and Verizon New England, Inc., for one new jointly owned pole location unanimously
- Accepted a communication from Massachusetts Electric Company d/b/a National Grid and Verizon New England, Inc., for one new jointly owned pole location unanimously
- Accepted a communication from Massachusetts Electric Company d/b/a National Grid and Verizon New England, Inc., for one new jointly owned pole location unanimously
- Accepted a communication from Massachusetts Electric Company d/b/a National Grid and Verizon New England, Inc., for one new jointly owned pole location unanimously
- Accepted a communication from Massachusetts Electric Company d/b/a National Grid and Verizon New England, Inc., for one new jointly owned pole location unanimously
- Accepted a communication from Massachusetts Electric Company d/b/a National Grid and Verizon New England, Inc., for one new jointly owned pole location unanimously
- Accepted a communication from Fall River Redevelopment Authority regarding Davol St. Corridor Maintenance unanimously
- Accepted a communication from Commission on Disability regarding recommendations for changes to polling places unanimously
- Approved proposed ordinance – Traffic, Violations and penalties through first reading, second reading and enrollment, as amended
- Approved a loan order of $29,800,000 for the purchase of the former Bishop Connolly High School property, 7-1
- Approved Fall River Contributory Retirement Board re: vote of 3% cost of living increase unanimously
- Adjourned the meeting at 9:01 p.m.
How each councilor voted
| Motion | Ponte | Cadime | Camara | Ganuel | Dionne | Hart | Peckham | Pereira | Raposo |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Motion to lift item 1 from the table (Approved unanimously) | Y | Y | Y | Y | Y | Y | Y | Y | Y |
| Proposed ordinance authorizing the City Council to hire outside legal counsel (Rejected 3-6, Mayor vetoed) | Y | N | N | Y | Y | N | Y | N | N |
| Request for confirmation of the appointment of Nathaniel Roberts to the Cultural Council (Confirmed unanimously) | Y | Y | Y | Y | Y | Y | Y | Y | Y |
| Grant order to accept $10,000 from Southcoast Health to procure a state-of-the-art advanced training mannequin for the Emergency Medical Services Dept. (Approved unanimously) | Y | Y | Y | Y | Y | Y | Y | Y | Y |
| Memorandum of Agreement for Labor Advantage for Workers, Local 124 (Approved unanimously) | Y | Y | Y | Y | Y | Y | Y | Y | Y |
| Proposed ordinance amending §2-401, Chief of Police – Appointment; powers and duties; term (Referred to Committee on Ordinances and Legislation unanimously) | Y | Y | Y | Y | Y | Y | Y | Y | Y |
| Proposed ordinance amending §50-303, Salary schedule for political appointments and boards/committees (Referred to Committee on Ordinances and Legislation unanimously) | Y | Y | Y | Y | Y | Y | Y | Y | Y |
| Proposed ordinance amending §50-301, Salary schedule for executive officers, department heads, and non-union personnel (Referred to Committee on Ordinances and Legislation unanimously) | Y | Y | Y | Y | Y | Y | Y | Y | Y |
| Proposed ordinance amending §62-2(C), Solid waste – collection and disposal generally (Referred to Committee on Ordinances and Legislation unanimously) | Y | Y | Y | Y | Y | Y | Y | Y | Y |
| Traffic Commission recommending amendments to the traffic ordinances (Referred to the Committee on Ordinances and Legislation unanimously) | Y | Y | Y | Y | Y | Y | Y | Y | Y |
| Fall River Redevelopment Authority regarding Davol Street Corridor Maintenance (Accepted and placed on file unanimously) | Y | Y | Y | Y | Y | Y | Y | Y | Y |
| Commission on Disability regarding recommended changes to polling places (Referred to the Committee on Ordinances and Legislation unanimously) | Y | Y | Y | Y | Y | Y | Y | Y | Y |
| Proposed Ordinance – Traffic, Violations and penalties (Approved unanimously) | Y | Y | Y | Y | Y | Y | Y | Y | Y |
| Communication from Evolve Academy – Services provided to veterans during Memorial Day Ceremonies (Accepted unanimously) | Y | Y | Y | Y | Y | Y | Y | Y | Y |
| Communication from Argosy Collegiate Charter School Early College Program Participants – Receipt of Associate Degree from Bristol Community College (Accepted unanimously) | Y | Y | Y | Y | Y | Y | Y | Y | Y |
| Communication from Plymouth Rock Assurance Corp. regarding a claim (Tabled) | Y | Y | Y | Y | Y | Y | Y | Y | Y |
| Communication from Suzinda Vieira regarding a claim (Tabled) | Y | Y | Y | Y | Y | Y | Y | Y | Y |
| Communication from Lisa Torres regarding a claim (Tabled) | Y | Y | Y | Y | Y | Y | Y | Y | Y |
| Communication from Elaine Medeiros regarding a claim (Tabled) | Y | Y | Y | Y | Y | Y | Y | Y | Y |
| Communication from Ann Marie Perciwarehester regarding a claim (Tabled) | Y | Y | Y | Y | Y | Y | Y | Y | Y |
| Communication from Carl Ferreira regarding a claim (Tabled) | Y | Y | Y | Y | Y | Y | Y | Y | Y |
| Communication from Roger Duarte regarding a claim (Tabled) | Y | Y | Y | Y | Y | Y | Y | Y | Y |
| Order to adopt an order regarding application for structures on or over a public way for St. Anthony of the Desert Maronite Catholic Church Inc. (Approved unanimously, with Councilor Camara abstaining) | Y | Y | A | Y | Y | Y | Y | Y | Y |
| Order to approve the drainlayer applications (Approved unanimously) | Y | Y | Y | Y | Y | Y | Y | Y | Y |
| Order to accept the Zoning Board of Appeals Minutes – April 16, 2026 (Accepted and placed on file unanimously) | Y | Y | Y | Y | Y | Y | Y | Y | Y |
| Order to approve the minutes of City Council, Public Hearings, Committee on Finance, Regular Meeting of the City Council, Special Meeting of the City Council (Approved unanimously) | Y | Y | Y | Y | Y | Y | Y | Y | Y |
| Fall River Contributory Retirement Board re: vote of 3% cost of living increase (Approved unanimously) | Y | Y | Y | Y | Y | Y | Y | Y | Y |
| Loan order of $29,800,000 for the purchase of the former Bishop Connolly High School property located at 373 Elsbree Street (Approved 7-1) | Y | Y | Y | Y | Y | Y | N | Y | A |
| Motion to adjourn (Approved unanimously) | Y | Y | Y | Y | Y | Y | Y | Y | Y |
Y = yes · N = no · A = abstained · P = present · — = absent. Votes the minutes do not record individually are inferred from the result and the attendance roll.